Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

तिलतैलान्वितं दीपं विष्णोर्वा शङ्करस्य वा । दत्त्वा नरः सर्वकामान्संप्राप्नोति नृपोत्तम ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

tilatailānvitaṃ dīpaṃ viṣṇorvā śaṅkarasya vā | dattvā naraḥ sarvakāmānsaṃprāpnoti nṛpottama || 64 ||

Translation

至上之王啊，若有人向毗湿奴或商羯罗（湿婆）供奉盛满芝麻油的明灯，便能成就一切所愿。

Word by Word

• तिलतैलान्वितम्: accompanied with sesame oil
• तिलतैलान्वितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिलतैल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तिलतैलेन अन्वितम्), ‘अन्वित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with दीपम्)

• दीपम्: a lamp
• दीपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• शङ्करस्य: of Shankara
• शङ्करस्य: सम्बन्ध (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• दत्त्वा: having offered
• दत्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्वकामान्: all desires
• सर्वकामान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सर्वे कामाः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• संप्राप्नोति: attains
• संप्राप्नोति: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नृपोत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (उत्तमः नृपः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed to a king as nṛpottama within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shankara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that dīpa-dāna (offering a lit lamp), especially with tila oil, is a potent dharmic act whose merit supports the fulfillment of legitimate aims (kāma) when performed with devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is expressed through simple, reverent service—offering light to Viṣṇu or Śaṅkara—showing that heartfelt worship (pūjā) and giving (dāna) become direct means to divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is emphasized: the correct upacāra (pūjā offering) of a dīpa using a specified substance (tila oil), reflecting applied kalpa-style ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.